KUCHING: The views of MPs and representatives of Barisan Nasional (BN), Perikatan Nasional (PN) and Pakatan Harapan (PH) will be taken into account as efforts continue on the proposed abolition of the mandatory death penalty.
Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Parliament and Law) Datuk Seri Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar said this following an engagement session with them in parliament last Tuesday.
The meeting discussed the proposed alternative punishment for 11 offences that are subject to the mandatory death penalty and 23 offences that carry the death penalty at the discretion of the court.
“This engagement session was also attended by senior officials from the Ministry of Home Affairs, the Attorney General’s Department and the Prisons Department,” he said in a press statement on Wednesday.
“During the session, all members of the Dewan Rakyat and representatives of the three parties who were present also discussed other policy matters related to this matter, including the status of the moratorium on the execution of the 1,337 prisoners who have been sentenced to death,” he said.
He added that in general, the MPs and representatives of BN, PN and PH expressed their appreciation to the government for its determination to abolish the mandatory death penalty.
“This action is seen as a positive and progressive step towards implementing major changes for sentencing policy in this country and to ensure the improvement of Malaysia’s legal and justice system,” he said.
He felt the engagement session was a good start to ensuring the presentation of all amendments to the Acts involved goes smoothly in the October session of parliament.
The government is committed to ensuring the abolition of the mandatory death penalty is successfully implemented, he reiterated.
On June 8 this year the government decided in principle to agree to abolish the mandatory death penalty.
